Golf-ball-washietg device



R. A. IVHNKLER.

GOLF BALL WASHING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-2 7.1919.

l SQQ, 6 3 3 Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

k I (mgr.v i 6 J0 r- ME A I I N VEN TOR A TTORNEY,9

v RAY .A. MI1 IKL ER, or' cAItTHAGEQMIssoURI.

* oLr-iaALL-wAsnmG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters. Pat nt.

T ApplicationfiledJanuary 27, 1919. ,Serial No. 273,402.

To all whomfit may concern: r Be it known that I, RAY A;-MrNKLER,'c1t1- zen of the United States of America, and

' resident 'of Carthage, Missouri, have. in-

vented a new and-useful Improvement in -Golf-Ball-W'ashing Devices, which invention is fully set forth inlthe following specification. V r r v The present invention relates to golf-ball washers and has for its object to provide'a device ofthe above characterwhich is simple in construction, rapidand eflicient inoperation, and which readily permits access to andreplacement of its scrubbing ele-f ments.

Heretofor'e; golf-ball washershavebeen constructed with brushes for scrubbing the balls mounted on revoluble members which are driven by gearing. While such devices are effective for cleaning balls, their construction is suflicientlyeomplicated'to make their first cost expensive and their up-keep troublesome.

'My invention overcomes the .above objections in large measure,- if not entirely, and

resides in providing a washing receptacle,

suchas a sheet metal can preferably tinned or' galvanized, and having yieldingly supported therein scrubbing. elements, such as brushes, arranged to receive between them a reciprocating cage adapted to contain the ball to be cleaned.

The scrubbin elements or brushes 'may be supported in "the washing receptacle in a variety of ways. The one which I preferably employ consists in providing a frame 7 consisting of a plurality of radial arms sepose, I form a circumferential corrugation in the .wall'of thefreceptacle' near the base flared sidesto secure a funnel efi'ect. receptacle is retained infixed positionfor' ',Wasl11ng. as by means ofa bracket spring and spring theangularbends of the'frame members into position therein.

In practice, four brush arms'have been found efi'ectlve, one of which is adapted to hold oneof the brushes projecting slightly above the upper ends of 'its companion brushes with a View of providing in this manner meansfor shifting theball in its cage as the latterenters the scrubber, thereby presenting-new surfaces to the brushes. I

. Patented Nov. 4, i919.

do not, however, desire to be limited to four brushes, lsince alarger or smaller number may-be employed.

' In order tobring the ball=into scrubbing relation to the ,brushes,-a cage is provided which permits 'ready reception of the ball and. access of theiball to the brushes; For

this purpose, I preferably construct a. wire cage having four'longitudinal retaining-elements, the distances between the elements being less than the diameter of the ball ex .cept atone side of the cage where the wires are bowed to form a ball-receiving opening.

The bottom end of the cage is formed by crossing of the wires, andthe top by meeting of the wires which may 'be extended to form a handle or attachment therefor.

The "receptacleis provided. with a cover having .anopening preferably provided with The clamp which permits ready removal and re placingv of the receptacle for washing -01 other purposes. o y

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference -is-had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one mechanical embodiment of the mechanical idea, and which are intended to assist the description but not to define the limits thereof. I f

In said drawings-'- Figure 1 is an elevational View showing the washer embodying myv improvements ready for use; and I Q Fig.- 2 is a vertical longitudinal .view of Fig. 1 showing the interior arrangement.

In the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical receptacle of sheet metal such as galvanized 11011,

provided with a removable cover 2 having a 'fla'red opening 3. Near the bottom of the receptacle is a corrugation 4 thepurpose of which is explained later. v

7, 8, 9 are brush-holdin elements formed by the extensions of radial arms 5. and 6. These members are constructed of metal such as ironin the form of resilient strips riveted at their centers and bent into the form shown. Where the arms 5, 6 merge into the vertical portions 7, 8 and 9, shoulders 10 are formedwhichare adapted to be sprung into corrugation 4 of the receptacle and thereby retain the frame formed by the members in place. 11,- 12, 13 are brushes secured to the inner faces'of elements 7 by screws 14. One of these brushes12 is'shown projected somewhat above the ends of the others and serves to shift the ball on its axis when passing this point. 15, 16 constitute a wire cage for receiving a ball 17. This cage consists oftwo pairs of side members 15, 16, the latter being bowed to form an opening to receive the ball. The'dis tances-between the parallel portions of the cage wires are less than the diameter of the ball opening and therefore prevent the ball escaping. .The bottom of the cage is formed by the crossing of the side wires and the top of the cage-by the meeting of the side wires to which a handle 17 is secured. r

From the above description, the operation of the device will be readily understood.

brushes can thensbe The brushes having been assembled as shown in Fig. 2,51 suitable cleaning liquid is placed in'the receptacle and the golf ball is inserted in the cage and the latter pushed down into the. can between the brushes, after which a few up anddown thrusts of the handle effect the cleaning of the surface of the ball. As

the ball leaves or enters the scrubbing space, it encounters the extended portion of brush 12. The friction thus exerted on one side only of the ball causes it to shift position in the cage and present a new surface to-the brushes thereby causing scrubbing of the complete surface of the ball in a few up and down movements of the cage.

When the brushes are worn out, the frame may be removed by springing the arms 7, 8 and 9' together, thereby releasing it from the container, and then lifting it out. New

placed on the brushholding elements.

In order that the receptacle may be held firmly in place during the scrubbing opera--' tion, it is preferably inserted into a holder' fast to some stationary object. Such a holder is shown, for example, in Fig. 1 consisting of an L-shaped bar of iron 18, the

foot of the L serving as, a support for the receptacle while. thebody of the receptacle is retained by two yielding arms 19, 19 extending from the upright stem of the L-iron.

brushes.

7D I fluid, a" plurality of scrubbing a .ball in scrubbing relation with said '3. In a device for cleaning golf balls, the I combination of a yesse for receiving a washing fluid, a brush-holding frame adapted to be'yieldingly retained in said receptacle and comprising a plurality of upturned'resilient members and brushes on saidmembers, and a manually reciprocated cage adapted to hold a ball in scrubbing relation with said brushes. r

l 4. In a. device for'cleaning golf balls, the combination of a receptacle for containing a washing fluid a plurality of scrubbing brushes retained within "the receptacle and arranged around a common axis, and a ,inanually reciprocated cage for holding a ball in scrubbing relation with said brushes,

the end of one of which extends beyond the ends of the companion brushes and is adapted to turn the ball in the cage into different scrubbing positions.

5. In a device for cleaning golf balls, the combination of a Vessel for receiving a washing fluid, said vessel being provided with a corrugation, a brush-holding frame within said receptacle comprising a plural ity of upturned resilient members having ylelding engagement with said corrugation for holding the frame in position, brushes on said members, and a manually reciprocated cage adapted to hold .a ball, in 'scrubbing relation with said brushes, and means for turning the ballinto different scrubbing positions.

6. In a device for cleaning golf balls, the

combination of a cylindrical vessel for receiving a Washing fluid, said :vessel being provided with a circumferential corrugation, a, brush-holding frame within said receptacle comprising a plurality 'of radial arms having upturned resilient brush-holding members having yielding engagementwith said corrugation for holding the frame in position, brushes on said members, and a manually reciprocated cage adapted to hold a ball in scrubbing relation with said brushes, and means for turning the ball into different scrubbing positions.

7. In a device for cleaning golf balls, the

combination of a receptacle for containing.

a washing fluid, a plurality of scrubbing brushes retained Within the receptacle and arranged about a common axis, and a mana ball in scrubbing relation with said brushes consisting of a plurality of Wires bent to form the bottom, sides and top of the cage and extended in bunched relation to form a handle therefor, said cage having a bal1- receiving opening at one side and near the top of the cage.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

RAY A. MINKLER. 

